Hydraulic sand feeder



Jan. 9, 1945. I D. A. WIELAND 2,366,763

HYDRAULIC SAND 'FEEDER Filed April 26, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l lul in."

Llll I 1 zit-2i Jan. 9, 1945. D. A. WIELAND 2,366,763

HYDRAULIC SAND FEEDER Filed April 26, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A5- E l E l l i 61 l I l i a .2?

Zazzz'eLiJZEfZazzd Jan. 9, 1945. wlELAN-D 2,366,763

HYDRAULIC SAND FEEDER Filed April 26, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ',p. e.;t.4 9, 194s I I i 2,366,763

4 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE HYDRAULIC SAND FEEDER Daniel A. Wieland. Hagerstown. Md.. assignor to .Pangborn Corporation, Hagerstown, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application April 26, 1943, Serial No. 484,647- 1o clams. (c1. 51 -12) 7 The present invention relates to apparatus for a position to be drawn into a hydraulic blast feeding a mixture of sand and waterto a hygun. I I draulic blast gun wherein the sand particles are A still further object of the invention percarried forward by means of a high velocity ains to the feature of removing water from jet of liquid, such as water. The invention more ,the top of the sand storage bin and permitting specifically pertains toapparatus for supplying such water to move downwardly whereby the wet sand in such a fluid condition that the mix falling water provides means for creating turture orslurry may be introduced into the hydraubulence n the wet sand adjacent th discharge be blast gun. orifice of the storage bin whereby blocking of A hydraulic blasting arrangement include athe discharge orific is prevented.

gun having a nozzle therein through which a Another and furtherv object of the. invention stream of liquid such as water is forced athigh pertains to means for skimming water from above velocity. This water jet is employed to carry the sand in the storage bin and directing such an abrasive medium into engagement with an water into engagement with th sand particles article orthe surface to be abraded. The abra- 1 adjacent the discharge outlet of the sand bin; insive is necessarily mad wet by the water jet .cluding means for adjusting the point atwhich and the expended water and abrasive is colthe water is directed into engagement with the lected in a pit or sump for reuse. In view of sand particles adjacent the discharge outlet. the fact that the abrasive is wet, and since Another object of the invention resides in promolding sand is removed from some of the artividing a feed pipe for water with the lower end cles being cleaned, sand is usually employed as thereof adjacent a discharge outlet for wet sand the abrasive medium. The wet sand recovered from a storag bin, whereby a layer of water for reuse in the blasting operation presents a flushes the wet sand from the storage bin over problem in the handling thereof in that this sand an inclined plate and into a well from which the cannot be readily upplied to the blast gun. In sand slurry may be drawn into the hydraulic other words, the wet sand readily cakes or packs blast gun.

and must b ma ntained in a somewhat fluid Other objects and features of the invention state if it is to be drawn into the hydraulic will be more apparent upon consideration of the blast gun by an injector action created within accompanying drawings and the following de the gun. so tailed description, wherein an exemplary em- Accordingly it is an object of the invention to bodiment of the invention is disclosed. provide means for automatically flushing sand In the drawings from a storage bin or hopper and simultaneously Figure 1 is a sectional view taken in side elemixing the sand with the flushing liquid. 7 vation illustrating sand mixing and feeding ap- Another object of th invention resides in paratus embodying the invention. providing a current of water moving downward- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illusly by gravity adjacent a supply of wet sand so trated in Fig. 1. as to move the sand to a position adjacent a Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the hydraulic pipe or tube through which theslurry is drawn sand feeding apparatus taken on the lin 3-3 into the hydraulic blast gun. of Fig. 1.

A further object. of the invention pertains to Fig. 4 is a side elevational view. of part of the provison of an inclined plate over which the sand feeding apparatus and illustrating dethe wet sand is moved by a current of water, tails thereof in section. i i so that upon interruption of the water current, V Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line the movement of wet sand to the hydraulic blast 4-5 5-5 of Fig. 1. gun will be interrupted by reason of the inclina- Fig. 6 .is a sectional view of the stand pipe tion of the plate. V taken on the line'G-G of Fig. 1.

A more specific object of the invention relates Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the upper to the provision of a storage bin or hopper withend of the stand pipe and illustrating a conduit in which a quantity of sand and water is stored, on arrangement for returning sand and water to including a substantially vertical pipe for dia sump. i

ect ng a current of water into engagem nt With, g.8 is a sectional view taken on the line the sand particles adjacent an outlet of the 8-8 of Fig.7.

storage bin, so as to prevent blocking of the Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the lower end outlet orifice and for moving the wet sand to of the storage bin and the well illustrating the framework.

'of the wet sand.

condition of the wet sand during the blasting operation.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown at Ill a lurality of posts or standards which support a number of cross beams ll to provide a frame for the various elements of the sand ifeeding apparatus hereinafter described. The beams II may be suitably joined to the post It! by welding so as to form a rugged framework for supporting other beams-on which a main sand storage b n indicated generally at I 5 is moimted.

The sand storage bin and auxiliary elements are suitably supported on the framework in any conventional or desirabl manner, such as by welding of these parts to the beams forming the The main sand. storage bin l5 may be ofany suitable cross-sectional shape, and in the illus trated embodiment, takes the form of a rectan- I gular shaped hopper formed of side walls l1 and I8, and a substantially vertical front wall 2|.

aecavcs blast sun so that the sand and water mixture therein may drain towards the hydraulic blast gun and back into the well lli when the blasting operation is interrupted.

The invention includes an encased open connection between the main sand bin l5 andthe well 16, and an important feature of theinvention pertains to the arrangement of the lower wall of such connecting means.v In the embodiment illustrated, a conduit having flat side walls provides such a connection and the lower wall 33 thereof is inclined to the horizontal at an angle somewhat less than the angle of repose of wet sand. The angle of repose of sand .particles is approximately thirty-three degrees, and the bottom plate or lower wall 33 is thus preferably inclined from the horizontal at a somewhat lesser angle than the angle of repose of wet sand. The conduit member, as indicated generally at M,

'maybe suitably connected at one end to the main sand bin by means of bolt and flange-as- The rear wall of the sand storage bin is formed a part of the rear wall of the sand bin and form-1 ing in part. a bottom therefor is inclined with respect to the horizontal at a rather steep angle;

and preferably greater than the angle of repose The sand storage bin is providedwith a discharge opening 26 in the lower portion thereof, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In carrying out the invention, one of the principal objects is to provide means for moving sand from the storage bin through the discharge opening 26, and in such a fluidcondition for being readily drawn into a conventional type of hydraulic blast gun for propelling the wet sand particles towards the articles to be blasted oring out such objects .of}1the.invention includes a receptacle or well l6 which is positioned below the discharge opening or orifice 25 of the sand bin. The well or receptacle 16 may be formed of a pipe 21 suitably supported on cross beams 25 forming part of the framework. The pipe 21, may be formed of any suitable cross-section a and in the embodiment illustrated it is cylindrical and extends substantially vertically upward and terminates in a plane corresponding substantially to the top of the sand bin 15, and

the purpose of this stand pipe 21 will be more clearly understood as the present disclosure proceedsh The stand pipe 2'! may be reduced in cross-section at the upper end thereof as indicated at 28 in the drawings;

A pipe or tube for supplying a sand and water mixture, to the hydraulic blast g'un (not shown) depends into the well or receptacle l6, and this pipe is indicated at 29 in the drawings. The pipe 29 preferably extends vertically upward through the stand pipe 21, and it is also adjustable vertically to'vary the position of the lower end 3| with respect to the bottom of the well l6. Thus the pipe 29 may be slidably-mounted in a bushing shown generally at 32 and a water-tight bushing 35. The upper end of the pipe 29 is preferably higher than the normal position of the abraded. An exemplaryv embodiment for carrysemblies shown at 36, and may likewise be detachably connected to the receptacle l6 by means of bolt and nut assemblies 31. While the crosssectional shape ofthis tubular conduit is shown and described as being formed of flat side walls,

it is to be understood that other cross-sectional shapes may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as long as the lower wall thereof is inclined at an angle less than the angle of repose of the wet abrasive.

A spout ll is provided for introducing sand and water into the main' storage bin l5. This spout ll may be supported in any suitable man'- ner such as two transverse angle irons 42 which form .part of the framework. Theupper end of the spout 4| is provided with a funnel 43. While this spout and funnel are shown as being rectangular in cross section, other shapes may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In carrying'out a blasting operation with sand and water wherein the sand particlesare propelled forwardly by water under pressure, and issuing at high velocity from the gun, the sand particles and water are'recovered and after removal of the fine sand particles, and-the heavy or large particles, the mixture of sand-and water is introduced into the funnel l3, and this mixture of sand and water moves downwardly in the spout 4|. During the blasting operation the mixture of sand and water continues to enter the bin or hopper l5, and some of the sand particles adhering to castings and the sand core will add sand to'the system, so

that a source of supply is thus provided which is in excess of the sand propelled by the blast gun. The sand entering the main'bin through the spout 4| will fill the vbin I5, as shown in Fig.-

1, and the lower end of the spout will become blocked when the angle of repose of the wet sand particles after settling in the bin I5 isat suflicient height to prevent drainage of the sand par--v shown) by means of the conduit 46 and a 'f-ur- I ther conduit 1, as shown in Fig. 4. The spout I is also provided with a bafllelS for prevent- 8,866,768 ing inadvertent escape ofsand and water through the opening 66.

The sand as hereinabove pointed out settles tease bottom of the bin or hopper i6, as indicated by the stippled portion of Fig. 1, and substantially clear water or liquid free of sand particles accumulates above the surface of the sand in the bin l6. During the blasting operation. additional water is supplied to the system so as to flush all the sand removed from the casting into the pit or sump, and at all times there is I a surplus of water in the system. The water in the-main bin I6 is, however, maintained at a level indicated approximately at 6| by the provision of an outlet orifice 62 in the wall i6 of the sand bin. This outlet orifice 62 is provided with a small chute 66 for conveying the surpluswater into the conduit system 66 and 61 whereby the excess water is also returned to the sump.

The upper end 66 of the stand pipe 21 terminates on a level corresponding substantially to the height of the opening 62, so that the upper end of the stand pipeis at the same level as the water accumulated above the sand in the bin It. The upper end 66 of the stand pipe is open, and also in o en communication with a transverse conduit 61 whereby sand and water may be forced upwardly throu h the stand pipe 21 and discharged over the up er end thereof into the conduit 51 so that this fluid material may be returned to the sum Thus when no blasting is being carried on. and when no further sand and water are being added to the hopper or bin l6. the sand and water will assume the position and condi ion sh wn in Fig. 1 wherein the stand pipe 21 will be fi led with water to the level of the upper end 56, and the bin l5 will include accumulated water therein at the level 5| corresponding to the level of the-upper end 66 of the stand pipe 21.

A valve 6| is provided in the enlarged lowerportion of the stand lpipe 21. This valve may be of any type and in the example shown in the drawings includes a disc 62 provided with several o enings which may be closed by slidable plates. These slidable plates may be actuated by a handle 63'. 1

When it is desired to initiate the blasting operation, the hydraulic blast gun is supplied wi h water under hi h pressure, and this water 'iet creates an injector action within the sand hose to the gun, and a depressed pressure condition within the pipe 29; so that water is drawn from the well l6. started the valve 6| is closed so that the water within the stand pipe 21 below the valve 6| is drawn into the pipe 29 by the iniector action of the hydraulic gun. When the well I6 is partly evacuated of water, it is necessahy to add some sand thereto which may be drawn throu h the pipe 29 to the hydraulic blast gun. A fundamental feature of the invasion pertains to providing means for moving sand in a fluid condition from the bin 5 into the well l6. An exemp ary embodiment of means for carrying out such obiectives takes the' form of a pipe 66 extendin vertically of the sand bin from a position adjacent the discharge opening 26. and terminatin at its upper end below the water level 6|. This pipe 66 is mounted so as to be adjusted vertically to thereby vary the point at which the water may be applied to the sand particles in the main bin adjacent the discharge opening 26. The pipe 66 may therefore be slidably mounted in suitable Before the blasing operation is II supports 6'! and moved by means of a handle 66 which extends above the upper end or the storage bin.

Thus, when the water in the well I6 is partly ev'acuatedas shown in Fig. 9 water from a position above the upper end 66 of the pipe 66 will flow downwardly therein by gravity and this water issuing from the lower end ll of the pipe 66 will create considerable turbulence in the wet sand adjacent the discharge opening 26, and move or flush sand particles as a layer over the sand lying in the blocked condition at its angle of repose on the inclined wall 66, and this flow of water will flush additional sand particles into the well 6 and in a suilicient fluid condition for being drawn therefrom by the depressed pressure condition in the 'pipe 26,. The invention thus provides means for flushing wet sand particles from the main bin l6 and at the same time mixing such particles with suflicient water to provide a sand slurry adapted to be drawn by an injector action into a hydraulic blast When the injector action of the hydraulic blast gun ceases, the water and sand entering the well l6 will assume a position approximately as indicated in the stippling of Fig. 1, and the water will fill the well l6 to the point of the valve 6|.

- When no further blasting is to be done fora considerable period, it is advisable to remove the sand from the well l6 in order to prevent packing thereof adjacent the lower end 3| of the suction .pipe 29. For this purpose, a water admission pipe 6| is provided for introducing water under pressure into the well I6 and preferably in a tangential direction. Then the valve 6| may be opened and the sand and water in the well or receptacle I6 will be forced upwardly and flow over the upper end 56 of the stand pipe 21 into the conduit 51 whereby the sand is moyed into the sump. The water will thus remain to fill the stand pipe 21, and no further pressure differential will remain between the level 5| and the upper end 56 of the stand pipe 21, so that no current of waterwill flow in the pipe 66. The sand will thus block the discharge orifice 26 since the angle of repose of this abrasive will assume the condition hown in Fig. 1, whereby the discharge oriflce 26 will be blocked and the objectionable feature of this sand moving into the well l6 will thereby be avoided.

When it is desired, to continue the blasting operation, the valve 6| is closed, and when sufficient water is drawn from the well I6, water will again flow downwardly in the pipe 66 to flush a fresh supply of sand into the well or receptacle I 6 whereby the gun will be .provided with an adequate and continuous supply of sand slurry to carry out the blasting operation.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific structural details, it will be understood thatzvarious modifications in shape and arrangement of the various parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the ap pended claims.

I claim:

charge opening therein below the normal level of said sand particles, said bin having an outlet orifice therein above the settled sand through conduit, the lower wall portion of said conduit which water may escape from the bin to provide a water level within the bin above the settled sand, a pipe extending downwardly from a point below said .outlet orifice and from a point above the settled sand to a point adjacent said discharge Opening whereby the water flowing downwardly in said pipe flushes sand through said discharge opening.

2. Apparatus for feeding wet set and water to a hydraulic blast gun comprising, a bin for receiving sand and water whereby sand'particles settle in the water to provide a layer of water above the sand, said bin having a discharge opening in the lower portion thereof, a pipe extending downwardly from a point above the upper surface of the sand in the bin and from a point below the normal level of the water in the bin to a point adjacent said discharge opening whereby water is discharged from the pipe to flush sand through said discharge opening, and means for adjusting the position of the discharge end of the pipe in relation to the discharge open- 3. Apparatus for mixing water with sand and for feeding the mixture to a hydraulic blast gun comprising, a bin having a discharge opening in the lower portion thereof, means for guiding sand and water into the upper portion of the bin whereby the sand settles in the bin to provide a layer of liquid over the sand, a substantially vertical pipe within the bin extending from a point immediately above the sand to a position adjacent the discharge opening, and means supporting said pipe for movement vertically in the bin.

4. Apparatus for supplying a sand slurry to a hydraulic blast gun comprising, 'a bin for receiving sand and water whereby the sand particles settle in the bin to provide water above the sand, said bin having a discharge opening in the lower portion thereof, means for skimming water from a point above the sand particles and guiding the skimmed water downwardly into engagement with the sand particles adjacent said discharge opening, a receptacle positioned below said discharge opening, means providing a conduit connection between the discharge opening and said receptacle including a lower wall inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle smaller than the angle of repose of the sand over which the sand from the bin is flushed by the water skimmed from the top of the bin.

5. In apparatus for supplying sand to a hydraulic blast gun. a sand hopper having a discharge opening below the normal sand level therein, a receptacle, a conduit connecting said receptacle to said hopper whereby sand may move from the hopper through said opening into said conduit, the lower wall portion of said conduit sloping downwardly from said discharge opening at such an angle that wet sand lying at its angle of repose thereon will tend to block said discharge opening, and means for supplying water to the sand adjacent said discharge open- 4 ing to flush sand into said receptacle.

6. In apparatus for supplying sand to a hydraulic blast gun, a sand hopper having a discharge opening below the normal sand level therein, a receptacle, a conduit connecting said receptacle to said hopper whereby sand may move fromthe hopper through said opening into said sloping downwardly from saiddischarge'opening at such an angle that wet sand lying at its angle of repose thereon will tend to block said discharge opening at suchan angle that wet sand lying at,

its angle of repose thereon will tend toblock said discharge opening, means for supplying water to the sand adjacent said discharge opening to flush sand into ,said receptacle, a pipe depending into, said receptacle for drawing sand and water therefrom,'and means for admitting water under pres-' sure to said receptacle to remove sand packed therein. v

8. In apparatus for supplying sand to a hydraulic blast a sand hopper having a discharge opening below the normal sand level therein, a. receptacle, a conduit connecting said receptacle to said hopper whereby sand may move from the hopper through said opening into said conduit, the lower wall portion of said conduit sloping downwardly from said discharge opening at such an angle that wet sand lying at its angle of repose thereon will tend to block said discharge opening, means for supplying water to the sand adjacent said discharge opening to flush sand into said receptacle, -a pipe depending into said receptacle for drawing sand and water therefrom, and a pipe terminating tangentially in said receptacle for directing water under pressure into the receptacle to flush sand therefrom.

9. Apparatus for supplying granular abrasive and liquid to a blast gun comprising, a bin hav ing a discharge opening in a lower portion thereof, means for guiding abrasive and liquid into said bin and preventing the abrasive particles from filling the bin whereby the abrasive particles settle in the bin to provide a quantity of liquid within the bin above the abrasive particles, and means skimming said liquid from a point above the settled abrasive particles and guiding the skimmed liquid downwardly into the presence of the abrasive particles adjacent said discharge opening. 1

10. In apparatus for feeding a mixture of granular abrasiveand liquid to a blast gun, a bin for receiving wet abrasive particles, said bin having a discharge opening in a lower portion thereof, a supply of liquid maintained above said discharge opening, and conduit means in open communication with said liquid supply terminating adjacent said discharge opening whereby the liquid moves through the conduit means into the presence of the abrasive particles adjacent the dischargeopening under pressure developed by the head of liquid and the weight of the liquid above said discharge opening.

DANIEL A. WIELAND. 

